Boy, 15, drowns after jumping off bridge in Stillwater

A 15-year-old boy drowned after jumping off this bridge in Stillwater on Tuesday.

Divers recovered the body of a 15-year-old boy who drowned in the Hudson River today after jumping off the Stillwater Bridge.

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department told local media the victim and four other teens jumped into the water. The boy resurfaced after hitting the water but then slipped back under, according to Sheriff Michael Zurlo.

The search began at about 1 p.m. and the body was found by divers at 2:45 p.m. The identity of the boy is not being released at this time.

Numerous local agencies and first responders, including the town of Stillwater Police Department, Stillwater rescue squad, state police and the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene, according to Stillwater Police Department Sgt. Ray Cordani. The search included divers from the Sheriff’s Department and state police. A state police helicopter was used in the search for the body.

The bridge links Stillwater in Saratoga County to Schaghticoke in Rensselaer County and is a popular jump off spot for swimmers looking to cool off in the summer, according to local officials speaking to media on the scene. Diving from the bridge is illegal.

The incident closed the bridge during the search as well as the Champlain Canal Lock C4.

Reach Gazette intern Andrew Pugliese at 395-3191, [email protected] or @ByPugs on Twitter.